Researchers David Awosoga and Matthew Chow have analyzed data from Olympic athletes to understand the patterns of their peak performance. They discovered that athletes' performances follow a parabolic curve, meaning they improve, reach a peak, and then decline. This peak period, often referred to as an athlete's "prime," is significantly influenced by age. In the highly competitive field of track and field, athletes often get only one chance to perform at their best during the Olympics, which occur every four years.

According to data from the Olympics dating back to 1896, 71% of track and field athletes compete in only one Olympic Games, and just 8% participate in more than two. This shows how crucial it is for athletes to be at their peak at the right time. The study used performance data from the past seven Olympic Games, from Atlanta 1996 to Tokyo 2020, to track athletes' career progressions and determine when they hit their peak performance.

The researchers used a method called survival analysis, typically used in medical studies to track time until an event, to find out the peak age of athletes. They found that the average peak age for Olympic track and field athletes is around 27 years old. Interestingly, the ages have remained consistent over the past 25 years, with only slight variations.

Training age, which is the number of years an athlete has competed at a high level, was found to be the best predictor of when they would peak. The study also highlighted notable outliers, such as Kim Collins from St Kitts and Nevis, who set his personal best in the 100 meters at the age of 40.